Water-distributing tap

ABSTRACT

The tap comprises a body of constant profile with a first longitudinal bore closed at both ends and connected to a water outlet preferably formed by a longitudinal slot in said bore, and with a second longitudinal bore parallel thereto, which is connected by a transverse passage to a water supply, is closed at one end and has a valve assembly arranged axially within its other end and provided with a handle located at the end of the tap body to control the communication between the second longitudinal bore and a transverse passage connecting it to the first longitudinal bore.

United States Patent inventor Claude Urban [56] References Cited Buvingen 27, Pepingen, Belgium UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 5- 33 1,520,018 12/1924 Evensta m1 137/606X f t d A Y 1971 1,747,640 2/1930 Morris 137/606 gg g" 1968 2,262,290 11/1941 Kuhnle 137/606X y g 3,327,729 6/1967 Erickson 137/606X 58607 Primary ExaminerRobert G. Nilson Att0rney-Raymond A. Robic ABSTRACT: The tap comprises a body of constant profile with a first longitudinal bore closed at both ends and g j g B g TAP connected to a water outlet preferably formed by a alms rawmg longitudinal slot in said bore, and with a second longitudinal U.S.Cl 137/606, bore parallel thereto, which is connected by a transverse 137/454.5, 137/801, 251/366 passage to a water supply, is closed at one end and has a valve Int. Cl F16k 11/22 assembly arranged axially within its other end and provided Field of Search 137/606, with a handle located at the end of the tap body to control the 607, 454.5, 801; 4/192, 193, 194; 251/366; communication between the second longitudinal bore and a 29/1 57. 1 transverse passage connecting it to the first longitudinal bore.

4 1 Z I 1, 1 v l I f I l l 1 I V I \I 1 I I l 1 1 I 1 i O 1 O 9 i' I 1 2 1 5 1 l i1 t ZZQ k hf 1 /L //Y I I I I l I I l 9' 20 5' 2' 7 1O 6 2 1 78 5 75 12 9 13 WATEIlt-IMSTIRIIBUTTNG TA]? The invention relates to a water-distributing tap which can be used inter alia as washbasin tap, a bath tap, or the like; although the tap can if necessary be used on ducts conveying liquids other than water, reference will be made hereinafter exclusively to water, taking this term to cover any other liquid.

It is more particularly the aim of the invention to simplify and rationalize the manufacture of taps; to this end the invention provides a water tap that comprises: a tap body formed by a predetermined length of rod stock having a constant cross-sectional profile throughout the full length thereof which is identical to that of the finished tap; this body being formed with a first straight bore closed at one of its extremities and extending longitudinally of the body from one end thereof to define a water-discharging chamber and a plug closing the water'discharging chamber at said one end of the body; the water-discharging chamber having a water outlet constructed for outward flow perpendicularly to the axis thereof; the body being formed with a second straight bore closed at one of its extremities and extending parallel to and alongside the first bore to define a water-receiving chamber, the second bore extending inwardly from the said one end and the body being further formed with a water inlet opening into the water-receiving chamber and with a passage that interconnects the chambers. Finally, valve means is provided in the water-receiving chamber to control the water flow between the chambers through the interconnecting passage, this valve means including an operating stem that projects outwardly of the second bore at the said one end of the body, and a handle is secured to the operating stem to actuate the valve means.

Also according to the invention and in the case of a tap with a hot and a cold water inlet, the first straight bore extends through the full length of the body and a plug closes the other extremity thereof, the body being fonned with a third straight bore closed at one of its extremities and coaxial with the second straight bore, the third bore defining a second waterreceiving chamber and extending inwardly of the body from the other end thereof. The body is further formed with a second water inlet opening into the second water-receiving chamber and with a second passage interconnecting the second water-receiving chamber and the water-discharging chamber. Finally, a valve assembly is provided in the second water-receiving chamber to control water flow between the second water-receiving chamber and the water-discharging chamber, the assembly including an operating stem projecting outwardly of the second water-receiving chamber at the other end of the body, and a handle is secured to the operating stem to actuate the valve assembly in the second water-receiving chamber.

Advantageously the tap body is formed by a predetermined length of a rolled or extruded shape of indefinite length or rod stock, for instance, of brass. The longitudinal and transverse bores and passages required in each particular case are then machined in the rod stock portion, whose length is determined in relation to the kind of tap required. This step obviates the necessity of shaping the tap body by moulding and makes the taps easier and more economical to manufacture.

According to another feature of the invention each handle has the same profile as the tap body and is so mounted that in the closed position the handle is in the continuation of the profile of the tap body. This feature gives the assembly a very attractive appearance. A handle of the kind specified can be manufactured separately from any material, for instance plastics, if necessary metallized, but it can also be made from a portion of the shape, thus making manufacture even more rational.

in an advantageous embodiment of the invention the water outlet of the tap is formed by a longitudinal slot with which the tap body is fonned and which opens directly into the first longitudinal bore. The outlet can also be formed by a series of aligned slots.

However, the water outlet can also be one or more nozzles each of which is connected to a transverse passage opening into the first longitudinal bore and into the outside of the tap body.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be gathered from the following description of an embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a bottom view, shown partly in longitudinal cross section of a tap body made according to the invention and a closure member, with its control handle, disposed in one end of the tap body;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tap member shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an end view of the tap member.

The drawings illustrate by way of example a mixing tap. A tap body l is formed by a rolled or extruded shape, advantageously having a profile such as that illustrated in F IG. 3. This profile is completely rational and pleasing in appearance, but could be replaced by any other profile in which the required longitudinal bores and transverse passages could be formed.

The body 1 is formed with two coaxial longitudinal bores 2, 2' which open into the end faces of the body ll. Discharging into the bores 2, 2 respectively are a transverse passage 3 connected to a cold water supply conduit 4, and a transverse passage 3' connected to a hot water supply conduit 4'. Moreover, two transverse passages 5, 5 discharge respectively into the longitudinal bore 2 and the longitudinal bore 2', the passages 5, 5' opening into a common longitudinal bore 6 whose wall is formed with a slot 7 which opens to the outside of the body 1 and forms the only water outlet.

Bores 2, 2 actually form water-receiving chambers while bore 6 forms a water-discharging chamber.

The passages 5, 5' can readily be drilled in the tap body 1 and closed by plugs 8, 8'. The bore 6 can be continuously drilled in the tap body 1 and closed at its ends by plugs 9, 9'. The slot-shaped outlet 7 could be replaced by a nozzle (not shown) connected to a transverse duct 10 shown in chain-dot lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transverse duct 10 opening into the duct 6 and opening to the outside of the tap body 1.

Disposed axially in the outer end of each longitudinal bore 2, 2' is a valve means or assembly, such as that shown at 11 in the right-hand portion of FIG. 1, which is screwed at 12 into a tapped widened portion of the bore 2. The valve assembly can be of any suitable kind which is adapted to open and close communication between the bore 2 and the transverse bore 5. The assembly has an axial control stem which projects to the outside of the tap body 1 and to which a control handle is attached. In the embodiment illustrated, the valve assembly is controlled by a handle 13 whose angular displacement, for instance through about enables the tap to be moved from the open position (shown in the drawings) into the closed position, by axially displacing a closure head 14 which can be applied to a seat with which the valve assembly lll is formed. in the opened position, water passes from the bore 2 into the valve assembly ill and leaves the latter via apertures 15 to pass into an annular chamber 16 with which the tap body 1 is formed and which communicates with the duct 5. To simplify the drawings, the handle 13 is shown in the closed position of the tap, although the closure head 114 is shown in the opened position. The handle 13 illustrated has the same profile as the tap body ll, thus making the latter more pleasing in appearance and even enabling the handle to be formed from a portion of the same rod stock as that used for making the tap body l. The handle 13 is so mounted that in the closed position its profile is in the continuation of the profile of the tap body 1.

The shape used advantageously has an outline which envelops the large cylindrical bore required for putting the valve assembly ill in place, and the smaller bore required to form the water-discharging chamber 6, so that the profile basically has the shape of a figure eight. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3 the profile has one side formed by a continuous curved line which is substantially tangential to one side of the figure eight and is continued on one side by a fin 17 extending over the whole length of the profile so as to cover the connections 4, 4' and form an easy grip for the handle 13.

To form an antisplash tap nozzle for the slot-shaped outlet 7, a folded or rolled sheet, or a plug of a spongy material, for instance foamed plastics with many small transverse channels can be placed in the bore 6, a fragment of an antisplash tap nozzle being shown at a place 18 in H6. 1. The antisplash tap nozzle can readily be put in position and removed on opening the bore 6 by removing a plug 9, 9. Since the plugs 8, 9 (8, 9) are disposed downstream of the valve head 14 they are never subjected to the pressure of the water, and this is an advantage.

According to the invention the shape is formed with a longitudinal groove 19 to facilitate the centering of the tool required for fonning the bores 3, 3. The groove 19 also facilitates the centering of the tool for forming the bores 5, which are then closed by the plugs 8, 8'. According to the invention the shape is also formed with a longitudinal groove 20 to facilitate the formation of the slot 7.

Taps of various kinds, a few examples of which are quoted hereinafter, can be manufactured from the same shape.

A single tap can be formed by one-half of the tap illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which case the slot 7 can of course be limited to a portion of the length of a single tap of the kind specified. For a bath tap, the tap body 1 and the slot 7 can be of any length. A very long tap can also be produced with a series of small spaced-out slots 7, for instance, for school or workshop washbasins, or the like. The multiple slots can be replaced by multiple nozzles each connected to a transverse duct, as 10, and if necessary having individual closure members.

lclaim:

1. A water tap comprising:

a. a tap body formed by a predetermined length of rod stock having a constant cross-sectional profile throughout the full length thereof which is identical to that of the finished tap;

b. said body being formed with a first straight bore closed at one of its extremities and extending longitudinally of said body from one end thereof to define a water-discharging chamber;

c. a plug closing said water-discharging chamber at said one end of said body;

d. said water-discharging chamber having a water outlet constructed for outward water flow perpendicularly to the axis thereof;

c. said body being formed with a second straight bore closed at one of its extremities and extending parallel to and alongside said first bore to define a water-receiving chamber, said second bore extending inwardly of said body from said one end; said body being further formed with a water inlet opening into said water-receiving chamber and with a passage interconnecting said chambers;

g. valve means in said water-receiving chamber to control water flow between said chambers through said interconnecting passage; said valve means including an operating stem projecting outwardly of said second bore at said one end of said body; and

h. a handle secured to said operating stem to actuate said valve means.

2. A tap as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said water inlet and said passage are offset from one another axially of said chambers,

said valve means further includes a valve seat between said water inlet and said passage, and

a closure head operable by said valve stem; said head being movable by said stem to and from said seat to control water flow between said chambers.

3. A tap as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said first straight bore extends through the full length of said ta body and a plug closes the other extremity thereof; said dy 15 formed with a third straight bore closed at one of its extremities and coaxial with said second straight bore, said third straight bore defining a second waterreceiving chamber and extending inwardly of said body from the other end thereof; said body is further formed with a second water inlet opening into said second water-receiving chamber and with a second passage interconnecting said second waterreceiving chamber and said water-discharging chamber;

valve means is provided in said second water-receiving chamber to control water flow between said second water-receiving chamber and said water-discharging chamber, said valve means including an operating stem projecting outwardly of said second water-receiving chamber at said other end of said body; and

a handle is secured to said operating stem to actuate said valve means in said second water-receiving chamber.

4. A tap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said water outlet is a narrow through slot extending along the full length of said water-discharging chamber.

5. A tap as claimed in claim 4 wherein said rod stock length is formed with a tool-centering groove running along its full length and lying along said narrow through slot of said waterdischarging chamber.

6. A tap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said handles are formed and are mounted on said stems so that their profiles lie in the extension of the profile of said tap body when said valves are closed.

7. A tap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said cross-sectional profiles are defined by two contiguous circles and by a curved outline tangent to both circles and extending away therefrom to define a tangential fin passing over said water inlets.

8. A tap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said rod stock length is formed with a tool-centering groove running along its full length and lying in the plane of the longitudinal axes of said chambers and on the side of said body opposite said waterdischarging chamber.

9. A tap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said water outlet opens to the outside of said tap body and is adapted to be connected to a water outlet nozzle.

10. A tap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water outlet is a narrow through slot extending along the full length of said water'discharging chamber.

11. A tap as claimed in claim 10 wherein said rod stock length is formed with a tool-centering groove running along its full length and lying along said narrow through slot of said water'discharging chamber.

l2. A tap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle is formed and is mounted on said stem so that its profile lies in the extension of the profile of said tap body when said valve is closed.

13. A tap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cross-sectional profiles are defined by two contiguous circles and by a curved outline tangent to both circles and extending away therefrom to define a tangential fin passing over said water inlet.

14. A tap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rod stock length is formed with a tool-centering groove running along its full length and lying in the plane of the longitudinal axes of said chambers and on the side of said body opposite said water-discharging chamber.

15. A tap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water outlet opens to the outside of said tap body and is adapted to be connected to a water outlet nozzle. 

1. A water tap comprising: a. a tap body formed by a predetermined length of rod stock having a constant cross-sectional profile throughout the full length thereof which is identical to that of the finished tap; b. said body being formed with a first straight bore closed at one of its extremities and extending longitudinally of said body from one end thereof to define a water-discharging chamber; c. a plug closing said water-discharging chamber at said one end of said body; d. said water-discharging chamber having a water outlet constructed for outward water flow perpendicularly to the axis thereof; e. said body being formed with a second straight bore closed at one of its extremities and extending parallel to and alongside said first bore to define a water-receiving chamber, said second bore extending inwardly of said body from said one end; f. said body being further formed with a water inlet opening into said water-receiving chamber and with a passage interconnecting said chambers; g. valve means in said water-receiving chamber to control water flow between said chambers through said interconnecting passage; said valve means including an operating stem projecting outwardly of said second bore at said one end of said body; and h. a handle secured to said operating stem to actuate said valve means.
 2. A tap as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said water inlet and said passage are offset from one another axially of said chambers, said valve means further includes a valve seat between said water inlet and said passage, and a closure head operable by said valve stem; said head being movable by said stem to and from said seat to control water flow between said chambers.
 3. A tap as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said first straight bore extends through the full length of said tap body and a plug closes the other extremity thereof; said body is formed with a third straight bore closed at one of its extremities and coaxial with said second straight bore, said third straight bore defining a second water-receiving chamber and extending inwardly of said body from the other end thereof; said body is further formed with a second water inlet opening into said second water-receiving chamber and with a second passage interconnecting said second water-receiving chamber and said water-discharging chamber; valve means is provided in said second water-receiving chamber to control water flow between said second water-receiving chamber and said water-discharging chamber, said valve means including an operating stem projecting outwardly of said second water-receiving chamber at said other end of said body; and a handle is secured to said operating stem to actuate said valve means in said second water-receiving chamber.
 4. A tap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said water outlet is a narrow through slot extending along the full length of said water-discharging chamber.
 5. A tap as claimed in claim 4 wherein said rod stock length is formed with a tool-centering groove running along its full length and lying along said narrow through slot of said water-discharging chamber.
 6. A tap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said handles are formed and are mounted on said stems so that their profiles lie in the extension of the profile of said tap body when said valves are closed.
 7. A tap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said cross-sectional profiles are defined by two contiguous circles and by a curved outline tangent to both circles and extending away therefrom to define a tangential fin passing over said water inlets.
 8. A tap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said rod stock length is formed with a tool-centering groove running along its full length and lying in the plane of the longitudinal axes of said chambers and on the side of said body opposite said water-discharging chamber.
 9. A tap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said water outlet opens to the outside of said tap body and is adapted to be connected to a water outlet nozzle.
 10. A tap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water outlet is a narrow through slot extending along the full length of said water-discharging chamber.
 11. A tap as claimed in claim 10 wherein said rod stock length is formed with a tool-centering groove running along its full length and lying along said narrow through slot of said water-discharging chamber.
 12. A tap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle is formed and is mounted on said stem so that its profile lies in the extension of the profile of said tap body when said valve is closed.
 13. A tap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cross-sectional profiles are defined by two contiguous circles and by A curved outline tangent to both circles and extending away therefrom to define a tangential fin passing over said water inlet.
 14. A tap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rod stock length is formed with a tool-centering groove running along its full length and lying in the plane of the longitudinal axes of said chambers and on the side of said body opposite said water-discharging chamber.
 15. A tap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water outlet opens to the outside of said tap body and is adapted to be connected to a water outlet nozzle. 